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Monthly Archives: December 2014

I have always been known to cry over a good wedding video, but I must admit–the closer my own wedding day gets (five months, y’all!!), any ounce of strength to resist tears that I had before is dwindling by the day. And when it came to this gorgeous film by The Film Poets? Let’s just say it’s a good thing I first watched it at home instead of in the office! The joy that Katherine and Kyle clearly have in each other is so beautiful, and their Alabama wedding struck the loveliest balance of sentimental and celebratory. Plus, hats off to Kyle’s mama for delivering one of the sweetest speeches I’ve ever heard!

From the bride:

We met at a small café in Venice, California. Kyle used to play guitar there on Saturday nights for open mic night. My friends and I would go to watch people perform, and as soon as I heard him playing country music, I knew I had to meet him. He later told me that as soon as he saw my brown cowboy boots, he thought, “I need to get to know her!” After a few weeks of catching each other’s eyes, I went up and introduced myself after one of his performances. We’ve been together ever since!

Our wedding was a true labor of love! We planned for over a year, and flipped the lake point from a beautiful ceremony site to an elegant seated dinner. After the ceremony, Kyle and I stayed inside to grab a quick bite to eat and spend some time alone together before the reception. When they called us out and we saw the transformation that had taken place, it took our breath away! It was unforgettable!

Videographer: The Film Poets / Photographer: Stacy Richardson Photography / Planner: Mariée Ami / Venue: Private residence / Flowers: Lagniappe Designs / Lighting: A.G. Lighting / Band: Momentum Party Band / Catering: Savoie Catering / Bride’s Cake: Olexa’s / Bride’s Gown: Winnie Couture / Bridesmaid Dresses: Weddington Way / Hair and Makeup: Kerri Bunn

See more wedding films here!

lisa Written with love by Lisa
4 Comments
  1. avatar Brittany reply

    Oh my gosh!

  2. avatar Kyla Fetzner reply

    I teared up too, Lisa! This is beautiful and the words spoken are so special :)

  3. avatar Allison reply

    I love those tambourines – so fun! Where are they from?

  4. avatar Heather reply

    Such a beautiful story and wedding. The reading by the mom is a mom who truly loves her son. I can only hope to marry a man one day who has the love his mom like Kyle

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McCall and Jay’s mutual friends played cupid perfectly! After meeting on a blind date, it took very little time for these two to know that they were not interested in dating anyone else. Their solid foundation helped navigate both their relationship and their wedding planning. McCall’s advice for future couple’s is right on point–she said, “Remembering that your love for each other and your marriage is the most important thing can help keep things in perspective when they start to get overwhelming.” Amen, friend! And, I must add, the reception barn at Mint Springs Farm is slowly sneaking up on my list of favorite venues!

SW hugs to Declare Photography for sharing this joyful day with us!

Jay proposed on November 8, 2013, just a few weeks before our first dating anniversary. It was a Friday night, and I had to work until about 7:00 P.M. When I got home from work, music was playing, Jay had a glass of wine and some snacks ready, and he said he was about to cook dinner. All of these things were not too unusual, so I was not suspicious at all. We sat on the back porch and built a fire in the fire pit. While watching the fire, Jay kept the music on and we sat close to keep warm. We were talking quietly about how much fun we had been having together when suddenly, Jay got out of his seat, got down on one knee, and proposed! I don’t remember exactly what he said–I was completely caught off guard! I saw the ring and was speechless, until Jay said, “Would you mind giving me an answer, I’m kneeling a little too close to the fire.” Needless to say, I said “Yes!” and we went inside. Unbeknownst to me, Jay had already figured out the perfect size for the ring, visited my father to get his blessing, and arranged for my parents to come to Nashville from Birmingham to celebrate with us.

Tell us about finding your wedding dress. I started out with a specific idea of the type of dress I wanted, and found one or two dresses that fit that vision. After trying several places in Nashville, I tried one more–Modern Trousseau in downtown Nashville. My mother and maid of honor were with me when I tried on the dress I ended up choosing, and it was nothing like the idea I had started with! It helped to have two people I trusted to help me figure out what looked best on me, but it was not too many opinions. My dress was all about small details–it was full ivory Alençon lace with a V-neck, satin lining, and small godets on the sides and in the back.

Tell us about some of the songs you used throughout your wedding and why you chose them. I had a string quartet play for the ceremony, so I chose more traditional, classical pieces of music. For the seating of the mothers, I chose “Ave Maria” by Bach/Gounod. I am from a Catholic background, so I though it fitting. Jay loves Pachelbel’s “Canon in D,” so I chose that for the wedding party processional. I have always loved “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring,” so I walked down the aisle to it. For our recessional, I chose “Arrival of the Queen of Sheba” by Handel. The name is daunting, but the piece is so joyful, I just loved it.

My wedding flowers were mostly in shades of cool greens, whites, ivories, and pale blush pinks. I used succulents and jasmine vines for greenery in many places. We used heirloom roses, traditional roses, café au lait dahlias, and even some large surprise orchids in my own bouquet.

What Southern details or traditions did you include in your celebration? What was Southern about your wedding? I wanted to make sure that the reception was informal, so rather than a sit-down dinner, we provided food stations and bar stations for guests to mingle and eat at as they chose. These types of receptions are very Southern, in my opinion. I also hired a band to play old South Carolina beach music for the wedding–songs I’ve grown up listening to and have always associated with the South.

How did y’all meet? Tell us your love story. Jay and I met on a blind date. Two mutual friends who knew each of us separately played cupid and set us up. After one phone conversation, Jay and I went out to dinner on November 20, 2012. On our second date a few weeks later, Jay asked to see me for three different future dates (he had tickets to go see a few concerts and shows in Nashville)! From that point on, neither of us was interested in dating anyone else.
When did y’all get married? August 16, 2014
How many friends, family members, and loved ones attended your wedding? About 160
Did you decide to do a “first look”? Why or why not? We decided to have a “first look” in order to have a small amount of private time together before the ceremony and reception. I also wanted to have as many pictures taken prior to the ceremony so we would not be gone for too long after the ceremony before joining the reception. It was nice to have a little quiet time with just the two of us to talk before the wedding.
Did you have something borrowed, blue, old, and new? If so, do tell! For something old, I wore my great-grandmother’s lavalier (a necklace). It was given to her by my great-grandfather at their wedding and is over 100 years old. All of my aunts and girl cousins have also worn it for their weddings. My something new was a pair of pearl stud earrings that Jay gave me for our wedding. For something borrowed, I wore a pearl ring belonging to my mother on my right hand. My something blue was a freshwater pearl and lapis bead bracelet that my aunt Frances gave to me for my confirmation when I was younger.
What was your most memorable moment about your wedding day? Our first kiss as husband and wife. I had lots of butterflies!
What advice do you have for folks currently planning a wedding? The most important thing to remember is that something will not go as planned, but the end of the day, you will still be married. Remembering that your love for each other and your marriage is the most important thing can help keep things in perspective when they start to get overwhelming.

Photographer: Declare Photography / Videographer: Cardboard Films / Planner: Angela Wilkes / Venue and Florist: Mint Springs Farm / Cake Baker: Signature Cakes by Vicki / Caterer: Chef Penelope / Band: Pat Patrick Band / Paper Products: Designs in Paper / Bride’s Gown and Veil: “Lauren” by Modern Trousseau / Hair and Makeup: Katie Russo Beauty / Bride’s Shoes: Badgley Mischka / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: “Arabelle” in Dusty Shale by J. Crew / Menswear: Jos. A. Bank

marissa Written with love by Marissa
3 Comments
  1. avatar mccall + jay reply

    […] McCall and Jay are personal friends from Nashville who like my husband and I, were set up by mutual friends!  Getting to know a new couple & making new friends is one of my favorite aspects of being a wedding photographer but there is always something extra special about getting to photograph a wedding of someone you knew before the wedding process started.  My husband and I actually went on our third date with McCall and Jay to an amazing bluegrass concert in a cave!  Their wedding was full of Southern charm, beautiful details, and a deep love.  The wedding was at Mint Springs Farm, which is quickly sneaking up on my list of favorite venues!  See more of this beautiful wedding on Southern Weddings blog! […]

  2. avatar Sandy Byrne reply

    Beautiful lots of happiness

  3. avatar David Strauss reply

    Beautiful soft natural light to these pics, great job!

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There’s so much classic Southern style in today’s inspiration nugget that I almost can’t stand it! Spanish moss, a statuesque plantation home, pineapples, a lace gown, and last but certainly not least, a sweet couple celebrating their first anniversary who knows the wedding is just the beginning. Big hugs to Blue Ribbon Vendor Sapphire Events for making our morning a little more lovely!

From Valerie, the planner: Earlier this spring we invited a real couple, Christine and Jordan, to collaborate with us on an anniversary shoot to capture the couple one year after they exchanged vows. The photographers and I wanted to bring out the beautiful light this couple shares for each other. We also gave the couple an opportunity to talk about their love after the first year of married life together, who they look up to as an example of a strong relationship, and what a marriage means to them now that the wedding planning process is behind them. I love the Southern Weddings mission to promote the marriage as more important than the wedding, and the results of Christine and Jordan’s brief interview with us in sharing those same values.

From the bride, Christine:

The most special moment about your wedding day: We were both so anxious before mass and the reception felt like a blur, but while we were at the church, it felt like it was just the two of us. It was nice to have that time to focus only on one another. The silly conversations we had and laughing and sharing in that moment together is something we will never forget.
What do you all look forward to in your next year of marriage? Continuing to get to know one another, grow and work together. One of the characteristics of people with happy marriages is that they never stop working on their marriage. They never stop learning about each other and never get complacent with their relationship. I cannot wait to continue to put in work together and learn something new to love about each other every day.
One piece of advice you would give to someone getting married right now? Don’t stress about your wedding day and all the details. Although it may seem like it now, your wedding day is not the most important day of your life and it will not make or break your marriage. You and your significant other decide that. Take a moment to remember why you’re getting married in the first place and that the incredible amount of love you have for one another will count for way more in the long run than what flavor the cake is or what you give out as favors. Focus on each other and try to remember as much as you can about that day, because it goes by fast!

Photography: GK Photography | Design and styling: Sapphire Events | Flowers: Nola Flora | Linens: Perrier Party Rentals | Invitation: Scriptura | Bridal Salon: Wedding Belles | Groom’s attire: John’s Tuxedos | Hair and Makeup: Bleu, a Blow Dry Bar | Venue: Houmas House Plantation

Sapphire Events and Nola Flora are delightful members of our Blue Ribbon Vendor Directory!

emily Written with love by Emily
5 Comments
  1. avatar ashley bateman reply

    Love Love Love!! Love their Love!

  2. avatar Friday Fresh Squeeze #168 – Floridian Weddings reply

    […] Totally inspired by these centerpieces: pineapples nestled on gilded leaves! […]

  3. avatar Genevieve reply

    This makes me want to get married all over again!

  4. avatar Gillian reply

    I’d love to know the actual designer and style number of that gown, it’s fabulous! Thanks!

  5. avatar Allison reply

    Sapphire Events is my absolute fav when it comes to styling events. I so want them to style/design my wedding!

Southern Weddings reserves the right to delete comments which contain profanity or personal attacks or seek to promote a business unrelated to the post.  And remember: a good attitude is like kudzu – it spreads.  We love hearing your kind thoughts!

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